Santa Maria police identify victim, suspected shooter in Friday morning homicide
SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Santa Maria Police Department has released the identity of both the victim and suspected shooter in Friday morning's homicide.
Police said 29-year-old Frankie Placido Hernandez, of Santa Maria, was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in his vehicle near the Broadway overpass and pronounced dead at the scene.
It happened around 2:05 a.m. Police said the shooting occurred behind a 7-Eleven on the 100 block of East Grant Street.
They said Hernandez drove away from the shooting scene and attempted to get on the 101 freeway when he died from his injuries.
Officers said they have also identified the suspected shooter as 20-year-old Erik Fernandez Rocha, also of Santa Maria.
No motive for the shooting has been determined. Police said this incident does not appear to be gang related.
The police department has obtained an arrest warrant for Rocha on the basis of murder.
Anyone with information about Rocha’s whereabouts or related to this investigation is urged to call the Santa Maria Police Department at 805-928-3781, ext. 2277; the tip line at 805-928-3781, ext. COPS (2677); or Detective Zack Robbins at 805-928-3781, ext. 1361.
